One Hundred Years Ago!
Centennial Celebration of the Settlement of the
Susquehanna Valley at Sidney Plains
Chenango Telegraph, June 19, 1872
Continued from posting of August 5, 2017
The officers of the day were then announced. Hon. Henry W. Rogers, formerly of Buffalo, now of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was elected to preside, with Vice-Presidents from many near localities. Among those from this locality were I.S. Newton, N.B. Hale, Norwich; W.S. Sayer and Joseph Bush, Bainbridge, and others. The Rev. Mr. Moss, of Sidney Plains, offered prayer, and then the Norwich Glee Club, Messrs. Babcock, Cary, Latham and Brown, were introduced, and delighted the assembly with their singing, as they did at subsequent stages of the exercise. the hearty compliments they received amply compensated for their part in the performances of the day.
The President made a few appropriate remarks and then introduced the Hon. David McMaster, of Bath, Steuben Co., who had been selected to deliver the address. So far as we have a report of his interesting address, he spoke substantially as follows:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentleman: Assembled as we are to do honor, by a festive celebration, to the memory of the pioneers, of the Susquehanna Valley, almost our first thought is one of sadness, that so many of our friends, lately among us, and whom we should have rejoiced to have met here today are not here. We are--
"Parted and rendered by mountain and wave,
And, put in the cold silent womb of the grave."
I pass into yonder enclosure and read on the pale marble the names of more persons than are present whom I now recognize; I walk through the long street in this village, where once every face was familiar, unrecognized, and meet only strangers, save here and there a gray haired old man, in whom I perceive a strong resemblance to the friend of my youth. Events which in their passing occupy and interest us most, soon pass out of mind and are forgotten. The effacing hand of time passes over and obliterates the realities of today. Memory and history alone can bring to us the realities of yesterday.
Hark! Today the great century clock strikes one! It is well for us to step aside and let the day with its fright of universal humanity sweep by, while for a few hours we cease from the turmoil of politics and the cares of everyday life, call back "the years long gone," and gather up the memories of men and events before they are lost in forgetfulness--and more than all, to cherish and cultivate in our hearts the memory of those virtues--the patriotism, the courage, the perseverance, the piety, for which our ancestors were distinguished, and to which we, their descendants are in a great measure indebted for the prosperity we enjoy.
The speaker said he did not propose a history of the valley, but thought he could best contribute to the design of the gathering by confining his discourse to the personal history of a few of the representative men, and some events of general interest with which they have been connected, avoiding details already published. Interest naturally centers in the fact that the Susquehanna Valley in this State was first Settled here.
One hundred years have elapsed since Rev. Wm. Johnston, accompanied by his son, the late Col. Witter Johnston, then 19 years of age, first came to this place. The father died in 1783, and there is probably no person now living who ever saw and conversed with him. Col. Witter Johnston died in October, 1839, at the age of 86 years, having actually resided more than 60 years upon the premises settled by his father and himself as the future home of the family. Members of Col. Witter Johnston's family continue to reside here who are not only familiar with facts as related by the first settlers themselves, and well understood in the family, but whose memory goes back almost to the commencement of this century. So that although the period of three generations as commonly computed has passed since the time from which we date commencement of our history, and although no formal records have been kept, with a view to the Preservation of facts of historical interest, an evidence, so far as it goes, is as reliable as if such care had been taken, although in respect to many important events not so minute and particular as could have been desired. All the books and papers of the late Rev. Wm. Johnston, were destroyed at the burning of Cherry Valley.
Mr. McMaster referred to the fact that all the first settlements of white people were effected by aggression upon the red man, but it was different in this valley. This was a sort of neutral ground, and some sketches were given of the several tribes who were here or in the vicinity. He also sketched the boundaries as they existed in those early days and pointed them out by the present boundaries.
Dominie Johnston and his son came to this place on foot, driving a cow from Cherry Valley or beyond, arriving here May 10, 1772. They came by an Indian path, and conducted by an Indian guide. The father remained till fall, making such preparations as they could for the accommodation and maintenance of a large family, which was to remove to this, their new home, the next season. he returned to his family in what is now Florida, Montgomery county, leaving Witter to pass the winter alone, or with such Indian company as he might happen to have. The Indians at this place were very kind and friendly to the family, aiding them when in straits for provisions and also affording much help in case of sickness in the family, according to their means.
In June following, the entire family moved to this place, consisting of the parents, Witter and Hugh and four daughters. They brought all their effects down from Otsego Lake in canoes. Dominie Johnston was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1713, and was about sixty years of age on his arrival at this place. He had received a thorough education at Edinburgh, four years in the University and three in the theological department. After his arrival in this country, a young man, he married a Miss Cummins, an English lady. It is believed he had principally resided after his arrival in their country, and before coming here, in the vicinity of Albany and Schenectady. His occupation had been that of a minister of the Gospel, of the Presbyterian faith. His wife was educated and accomplished, and was in the receipt of 150 [pounds] per annum until the declaration of war in 1776.
He went out like Abraham "not knowing whither he went," but confident that he should "receive an inheritance." One Bradstreet had a patent of a large tract of land lying south of the Susquehanna which he claimed came to the river at the junction with the Unadilla. He had offered Mr. Johnston lands without other consideration than that of settling on his tract. When Mr. Johnston stopped at this place, he supposed he was on the Bradstreet tract. It turned out that the Bradstreet tract did not come to the river, and the Johnstons, discovering the mistake, chose to remain and purchase of Banger & Wallace, the true proprietors, rather than go back from the river and receive land from Bradstreet. The price to be paid Wallace was seventy-five cents per acre. Wallace proved to be a Tory and his property was confiscated. After the close of the war and the death of Dominie Johnston, payment was made by Col. Witter Johnston to the State and the title for the heirs confirmed by the Legislature. The selection of this tract of 520 acres was most judicious--a better could not have been made between Otsego Lake and the mouth of the Unadilla.
To be Continued
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